Repeating cut-out constructions



A ril 25, 1939. R. L. SMYTHE, 2,155,959

REPEAT ING CUT OUT GONSTRUCTIONS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 1, 1936 INVENTOR.

fioamr L 5M vmi' ATTORNEY.

A ril 25, 1939. v R. 1.. SMYTHE 2,155,959,

REPEATING CUT OUT CONSTRUCTIONS Filed April 1 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 3] a I I o 22' w 22 2a 22' 12 Z6 Z0 20 zo 1'7 INVENTOR.

fioamr L 5M m1:

Patented Apr. 25, 1939 I v 2,155,959 anrns'rmc CUT-OUT CONSTRUCTIONS Robert L. Smythe,

Milwaukee, Wis., assignor to Line Material Company, South Milwaukee, Wis.

a corporation of Delaware Application April 1, 1936, Serial No. 72,044

13 Claims.

This invention relates to a repeating cut-out construction.

Objects of this invention are to provide a novel form of repeating cut-out, such as a repeating fuse for example, which is so made that when a fuse link is ruptured,

a wide separation of the 10 from the device, and in which a successive fuse unit or cut-out is automatically thrown into circuit after a predetermined time interval.

Further objects are to provide a repeating cutout construction which although automatic in the operation of its parts, is nevertheless of'extremely simple construction and which has a small number of parts that may be cheaply and readily produced and installed.

Further objects are to provide a repeating cutout construction in which leakage is prevented anda long surface path is interposed between the insulating Furthe'ifioblects are to provide a construction in which one or more of the blown fuse elements any live portion of An embodiment the accompanying the apparatus whatsoever. of the invention is shown in drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a portion of the device, such line l of Figure Figure 2 is a front section being taken on the 2.

view of the device showing 3 of a supporting bracket 4 may be attached to a pole arm or at any other suitable place.

The upper and lower ends of the porcelain member are provided with reduced portions 5 and s which end in flanges 1 and a. An upper clamped around the reduced upper portion 5 of the porcelain member.

The bracket member 9 carries an insulating, transversely extending bar or upper support ii. A lower bracket member I2 and a strap member i3 are clamped about the reduced portion 6 and the bracket member 2 carries a metallic lower supporting member or bar i4.

The lower bar l4 carries a plurality of lower contact members or terminal members I5. One .of the terminal members, for instance the outermost thereof, may be provided with a connector i 5 for connecting a conductor l1 thereto to thereby electrically connect all of the lower members I5 with the conductor.

The lower contacts I 5 are each formed of spring material, such as phosphor bronze spring Each of these lower contact or terminal members i5 is U-shaped or V-shaped, as shown in Figure 2, and is provided with a hooked outer end l8, see Figure 1. The ends of the arms of the members l5 are secured to the bar l4 by screws l9 and it is preferable to provide a coiled portion 20 adjacent the ends of the members I5 to increase their resiliency.

The upper bar ll which is formed of insulating material, carriesa plurality of upper terminal members 2|, 22 and 23. These upper terminal members are like the lower members I5 and are clamped or secured to the bar I l by means 01' screws or bolts 24.

Each of these upper terminal members is provided with the coiled portions 22' and with the upturned book like ends 34'. A fuse link is interposed between each pair of upper and lower terminal members. The fuse link preferably consists of a fusible section 35 enclosed in an insulating non-combustible sheath or tube 36 and terminating in looped leaders' 31 which are hooked over the hook like portions l8 and 34 of the terminal members. The terminal members tend to spring apart and thus the fuse links are each under tension.

The terminal member 22 is connected to an arm or stationary contact bar 25 which extends lateraliy towards the terminal member 2| and extends over such member. The terminal member 23 is connected to a similar arm 25 which extends laterally and over the adjacent contact member 22. Bracket members 21 and 28 are associated with the terminal members 2| and 22 and may be clamped to the bar H by the bolts 24. These bracket members extend upwardly and over their corresponding contact members and each carries a time delay mechanism of any suitable type, such as a dashpot or bellows indicated generally by the reference character 29. These time delay members may each be provided with a plunger or movable member 30 which is adapted to be engaged by a portion of the corresponding contact member.

For example, the contact members 2| and 22 may be provided with small plates or similar portions 3| rigid therewith and adapted to engage the respective plunger 3|! so as to delay the final upward motion of the corresponding contact member and prevent the immediate engagement of the contact member 2| with the arm 25 or the contact member 22 with the arm 20, thus providing a delayed action of the contact members 2| and 22 to thereby delay theclosing of the circuit through the next adjacent fuse unit.

The contact member 2| may be provided with a connector 32 by means of which the conductor 33 may be connected to the first upper contact member 2|;

The operation of the apparatus is as follows:

Assuming that all of the fuse links are in place, it will be seen that the circuit is completed through the left-hand fuse link and that the other fuse links are not in circuit. Also it is to be understood that as many units as desired may be assembled in. a group, three having been chosen for the sake of illustration.

' Assume that an overload occurs and that the left-hand fuse link is ruptured. This releases the springy terminal arms i5 and 2| and they swing apart and throw any remaining unburned portion of the fuse link, for instance the looped portion of the leaders, from the device.

The terminal arm 2| in moving upwardly engages the movable member or plunger ll of the time delay device and this device retards further upward motion of the arm, allowing the arm, however, to move upwardly and finally engage the contact bar or contact member 25, thus connecting the next fuse link .in circuit. If the fault has cleared during this interval, the second fuse link remains in service, but if the overload lasts for a longer period than that provided by the time delay device, the second fuse will also be ruptured and the second fuse unit, therefore, will operate in the same manner as that described for the first fuse unit, thus connecting the third fuse unit in circuit.

It is to be noted that the lower terminal members throw the lower ends of the burned-fuse links away from them and that the first portion of the stroke of the upper terminal members is also quick and throws the upper ends of the fuse links away from the upper terminal members, and that thereafter the motion of the upper terminal members is delayed to thus delay the connecting of a successive fuse link into circuit.

It frequently happens that the overload is only a temporary occurrence and consequently only one or two of the fuse links may happen to blow, thus leaving one or more fuse links in reserve with, one of the fuse links in active service.

In refusing the device it is a simple matter for a lineman to use a switch stick and hook the upper looped portion of the leader of a new fuse link over the end of a switch stick. Thereafter he hooks the lower end of the leader to the fuse link over the lower hooked portion i8 and deflects the lower arm I! upwardly beyond its normal position, thus allowing the lineman to hook the upper looped portion over the hooked portion 84 of the arm 2| without prematurely interrupting the circuit. Thereafter he removes the switch stick and the arms adjust themselves to their correct positions, the tension from the ditions to pull the upper arm back to its normal position.

It will be seen that a very simple and reliable repeating fuse construction has been provided which is easy to refuse, which gives a visual indication when a fuse has blown, and which does not require the lineman-to come in contact with any live parts during refusing.

Further, it will be seen that the device can be made very cheaply indeed, and that although it-is automatic in its operation, nevertheless it is of simple construction.

Although this invention has been described in considerable detail, it is to be understood that such description is intended as illustrative rather than limiting, as the invention may be variously embodied and is to be interpreted as claimed.

1 claim:

1. A repeating cut-out comprising a body portion having an insulating member and a conducting member, a plurality of fixedly located terminal members carried in opposed pairs by said conducting and insulating members and projecting outwardly from said conducting and insulating members, severable conducting means normally joining said pairs of members and held free and clear of other portions of the cut-out, said first pair of members being connected to an electric line, one member of. each pair being biased for motion when the corresponding severable conducting means has been severed, current responsive means for severing the first of said severable conducting means, and means positioned in the path of movement of the first of said biased terminal members for co succeeding severable conducting means electric line.

2. A repeating fuse construction comprising a body portion, a connecting member carried by said body portion, an insulating member carried by said body portion and arranged in spaced relation to said connecting member, a plurality of fixedly located terminal members carried respectively by said connecting member and said insulating member and projecting outwardly from said connecting a lathe and insulating members, rality of fuse links each joining one of the terminal members carried by said insulating membet and one of the terminal members carried by said connecting member and held free and clear of other portions of the construction. at least one of the terminal members carried by said insulating member being biased towards outward motion and being restrained by the fuse link connected to said biased terminal member, means for connecting an electric line through the fuse link carried by said biased terminal member, switch means for connecting a successive fuse link in the electric line when said biased terminal member has been released upon blowing of the corresponding fuse link, and time delay means adapted to be struck by said biased terminal member restraining the outward motion of said biased terminal member.

A fuse construction comprising a first supporting member formed of conducting material and having a plurality of fixedly located fuse link anchoring means thereon, a supporting member formed of insulating and havand clear of other ing a plurality of fixedly located movable fuse link receiving means biased towards outward motion, a plurality of fuse links suspended between the fuse link anchoring means and the movable fuse receiving means and held free and clear of other portions of the construction, the first of said fuse link anchoring means and fuse receiving means being connected to an electric line, contact members electrically connected to successively succeeding fuse receiving means and extending into the path of movement of the next preceding fuse receiving means, and time in the path of travel of the movable fuse link receiving means and by said movable fuse link receiving means.

4. A fuse construction comprising a body portion, a plurality of fuse units carried by said body portion and each comprising a pair of fixedly located terminal members projecting outwardly from the body portion and having free Outer ends, a fuse link for each fuse unit hooked over the outer ends of the terminal members of said fuse units and held free and clear of other the construction, at least one of the terminal members of each fuse unit being retending to move outwardly and hold ing the ends of the fuse links in firm engagement with the ends of the terminal members of said fuse units, an electric line connected through one of said fuse units, and means for connecting succeeding fuse units to said electric line when the preceding fuse unit has blown.

5. A fuse construction comprising a body portion, a plurality of fuse units carried by said body portion and each comprising pairs of fixedly located terminal members having outwardly projecting free ends, said terminal members being resilient and tending to move apart, a fuse link suspended between and joining each pair of terminal members and restraining the terminal members from outward motion and held free portions of the construction, an electric line connected through the first of said terminal members, means engageable upon movement of one of said terminal members for connecting a succeeding fuse unit in the electric line when the preceding fuse unit has blown, and time delay means for delaying the outward motion of certain of said terminal members, the first portion of the motion of the last mentioned terminal members beingrapid and the latter portion of the motion of the last mentioned terminal members being slow.

6. A fuse construction comprising a body' portion having a transversely extending insulating bar and a transversely extending conducting bar, a plurality of resilient terminal members projecting outwardly from said conducting bar and terminating in free outwardly movable hooked ends, a plurality of resilient terminal members carried by said insulating bar and terminating in free outwardly movable hooked ends, fuse links hooked over the hooked ends of said terminal members, each fuse link Joining one of the terminal members carried by the conducting bar with one of the terminal members carried by the insulating bar, and a contact member extending from each of certain of the terminal members carried by the insulating bar into the path of movement of a preceding terminal member.

7. In a repeating fuse construction, the combination of a plurality of fixedly located fuse link receiving members arranged in pairs with the ele-- ments of each pair spaced apart, suspension fuse iinks normally suspended between and joining the elements of each pair, means tending to increase the separation of said elements of each pair and normally restrained by the corresponding fuse link, an electric line normally connected through one of said fuse links, and means for transferring said electric line to a succeeding fuse link upon rupture of a preceding fuse link, at least one element of each pair throwing any remaining unburned portion of the corresponding fuse link away from such element upon rupture of such fuse link.

8. In a repeating fuse construction, the combination of a plurality of fixedly located fuse link receiving members arranged in pairs with the elements of each pair spaced apart, suspension fuse links suspended between being normally restrained by said fuse links, an electric line normally connected through one of said fuse links, and means for transferring said electric line to a succeeding fuse link upon ruptureof a preceding fuse link, the elements of each pair relaxing their engagement with the corresponding fuse link upon rupture of the fuse link and throwing any unburned portions of the fuse link away from the elements.

9. In a repeating fuse construction, the combination of a plurality of fixedly located fuse link receiving members arranged in pairs with the elements of each pair spaced apart, suspension fuse links suspended between and joining the elements forming the respective pairs, the elements of each pair being resilient and tending to move apart and being normally restrained by said fuse links, an electric line normally connected through one of said fuse links, and means for transferring said electric line to a succeeding fuse link upon rupture of a preceding fuse link, the elements of each pair relaxing their engagement with the corresponding fuse link upon rupture of the fuse link and throwing any unburned portions of the fuse link away from the elements.

10. In a repeating fuse construction, the coma bination of a plurality of fuse link receiving members arranged in pairs with the elements of each pair spaced apart, fuse links joining the elements forming the respective pairs, the elements of each pair having hooked ends and being resilient and tending to move apart and being normally restrained by said fuse links, said fuse links having looped ends freely and detachably engaging the.

hoo 'ed ends of said elements and held in con tact with the hooked ends of said elements by the resiliency of said elements, an electric line normally connectedthrough one of said fuse links, and means for transferring said electric line to a succeeding fuse link upon rupture of a preceding fuse link, the elements of each pair throwing any remaining unburned portion of the corresponding fuse link away from said elements upon rupture of the fuse link.

11. In a repeating fuse construction, the combination of a plurality of fixedly located fuse link receiving members arranged in pairs with the elements of each pair spaced apart, suspension fuse links suspended between and joining the elements forming the respective pairs, one element of at least one pair comprising a spring urged arm detachably engaging the fuse link, time delay means normally out of contact with said spring urged arm for retarding the motion of said arm whereby said arm will make a quick initial movement upon rupture of the corresponding fuse link to throw any unburned portion of the link from said arm and will thereafter engage said time delay means and slowly move outwardly, an electric line normally connected through the fuse link carried by said spring urged arm, and means arranged in the path of travel of said arm for transferring said electric line to a succeeding use link after said arm has operated said time delay means.

12. A fuse construction having an insulating 0 portion and a conducting portion in spaced rela- 'tion, a plurality of fixedly located terminal members projecting from and carried by said conducting portion and said. insulating portion, at least one of the terminal members carried by the insulating portion members having tree outwardly projecting ends, fuse links suspended between the projecting ends of said terminal members and joining the terminal members carried by said insulating portion with the terminal members carried by said conducting portion and held free and clear of other portions of the construction, a contact member connected to one of the terminal members carried by said insulating portion and projecting into the path of travel of the movable terminal member, and means for connecting an electric line through that pair of terminal members having the movable terminal member, whereby when being movable, said terminal the fuse link is severed between the last mentioned pair or terminal members the movable terminal member moves into engagement with the contact member. i

13. A repeating iuse structure comprising an insulating support, a plurality of fixedly located contacts carried by said support electrically connected with each other and adjacent one end of said support, a plurality of fixedly located resilient contact arms carried by said support in spaced relation to each other and to the first mentioned contacts and adjacent the other end of said support, said resilient contact arms being insulated from each other and from the first mentioned contacts, suspension fuse links each connecting one of the first mentioned contac s with one of said resilient contact arms and holding said resilient contact arms under tension, said fuse links being held suspended between said contacts and said arms free and clear of all other portions of the structure, and a contact member electrically connected with one of said resilient contact arms and extending to a position for contact with another of said resilient contact arms after the fuse connected with the last mentioned resilient contact arm has ruptured.

ROBERT L. SMYTHE. 

